Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-02-12
TErORD BF TN q Pa ESfDESr
The Dependent Pension Bili Returned wifnou
Hls ssignature-rh Weak spots Pointed an,

Aho DePehoeut fenuoo biii Returned WithO at
II" "sisnature-rho Weak spots PoIated out.
The president In his message to the House
OF Representatives on Friday, vetonc the
dependent pension bill, says: "This is the
fret general bill that has been sanctioned by
the Congress since the close OF the late civil
war permitting pension to the soldiers and
sailors who served In that wsr upon the
ground Of service aud present disability
alone, and In the entire absence OF any In.
juries received by the casualties or incidents
OF such service.
"rhe service pension bill passed at this
session OF Congress thirty.nIns years after
the close OF the Mexican war, for the bsne.
at OF the soldiers OF that war, requires
either some degree of disability or depend.
ency, or that the claimant under It's pro.
visions should oe sixty two years OF age and
In either case that be should have served
sixty days or been actually engaged in q
ba'tle.n
With this reference 10 the Mexican pen sion
Dill he passes on TO the large mum Der already
on the civil war pension rolls, and then
quotes the qualifications for a pension under
the new bill, the leading one being ths. the
disability must be such a. 0.ncapacitatas
them for the performances of labor 10 such a
degree ss to render them unable TO earn q
support"
WA: ia support" he asks. "who Is TO
has II not? Is the government to enter the
homes OF claimants for pension and after an
examination OF their surroundings aud cir.
cutnstances settle those ouestionss Shall
the government say 10 one man that his
manner OF subsistence by his earnings Ii A
support, and to another that the things HE
earnings furnish are not q support: Auv
attempt, however honest, to administer this
law In such manner would necessarily pro
duce more unfairness and uni ust discrmius.
ton and give more scope for partisan psr !.
TALLY, and would result In more peryersion
OF the governments benevolent Intentions
than the execution OF any statute ought to
permit
81 am Of the opinion tha. IT may fairly b.
contended that under the provisions OF this
section any soldier whose faculties of mird
OF body have become I'm paired by accident
disease or age, irrespective Of his service An
the army as a cause, and who by his labor
only Is LETT incapable Of gaining the fair
support he nigh. with un!mpa,red povers
have provided for himself, and who Is not 40
well endowed with this worlds goods "a to
live without work, may claim to psrtici pate
IN It's bounty that IL Is not required that he
should be without property, but only that
laoof should be necessary to his support In
some degree; nor is It required that be
should De norrecslving support from others
~ cannot oelievs t1st the vast peaceful
army OF Union soldiers who ha7ing content.
edly resumed thei. places 10 the ordinary
avoca,ions OF life, cherish ss sacred the
memory ofpstriotic service. or who. having
oeen disabled 10y the casualties OF war,
justly regard tho present pension roll, on
which appears their names, "a q roll o, hor o.,
desire e. this time and In the present exi.
Sency TO be coufOUpded with those who
thought such bill as this are willing 20 Re
objects OF simple charity and to gain place
upon the pension roll through alleged de
pendeuce.
The chairman OF tbs House committee on
pension calculates that the number of psn.
sioners under this bill would be o., los. and
the Increased annual cost 81, l57, ,l20 THIS is
upCh tue theory thst only those who are en-.
c!ariss o7uen
a1fnone should bs pensionea undsr th,s
bill except thoss utterly unable TO work. 7
am estished thstthe costs stated In the es.in Alta
feleFred 10 would be many times multiplied.
and with a constant ibcrolse from wear 10
year, ana II those partially unable 10 earn
tneir support should be admitted to the priv.
HeSes OF this bill, the probable Increase OF az.
pense would be almost appalling.
u. has constantly been cause OF prida
ana congrseulstiou to American citizens thst
.his country Is not put to the charge of M ain
nrning large standing army In time OF peace
Iet we are now living under a war tsx
wnlcn mas peen tolerated ii peaceful times TO
,nees tne ooligaiions incurred In war. But
Tor years past In all parts OF the country ths
demand for the reduction Of the burden. M
taxations upon our labor and producti ba.
increased In volume and urgency.
aul not willing 10 approve q measure
p.esehung the objections to which this bill is
suoJect, ana which, moreover, will have the
eue't OF q dlsappotntin2 the expectation OF the
PeoPie and their desire aud hope tor relief
Hoh war taxation in time OF peacen